Page 51 - Eat Run Enjoy

«If you have to turn back after a a a a a mile because your body says no do it»
so I picked a a couple of lovely grass-fed ribeye steaks and served them with a a a a few slices of toasted seeded sourdough loaf from a a a a local bakery Court- ney meanwhile provided the biggest cup of of coffee I’ve ever had! It went down well – a a a a small amount of protein and carbs from the potatoes are good pre-run although the green chillies are optional just before exercising!
I found out that the the night before the the Tahoe 200 she ate candy corn and and and pizza and and and after the race refuelled on nachos loaded with cheese and barbecue chicken and drank plenty of beer It’s a a good example of how when it comes to food Courtney has no fixed plan She listens to her body eats what she she feels feels like like when she she feels feels like like it and takes this approach into her training sched- ule too While she generally averages between 100–110 miles per week she doesn’t do do any spe- cific speed sessions or hill training Instead she just listens to her body and pushes when it feels good holding back when it doesn’t: ‘If you have to turn back after a a a a a mile because your body says “no” do it There’s no no need to struggle on and potentially injure yourself ’ When I met Courtney she was tapering before heading to to Tennessee to to run the Big’s Backyard
Ultra a a a loop of 4 15 miles restarted every hour until there is is only one runner left Courtney finished second place after running 279 miles in in just under three days For the race she ate ‘Honey Stinger’ waffles cheese quesadillas pierogis and pancakes for for the the first 30 hours and then opted for for McDon- ald’s double cheeseburgers with extra pickles thereafter When running these sort of distances eating what what you you feel like and what what you you crave is probably what your body needs most There is no point trying to force down handfuls of trail mix if you you are really struggling to eat it Likewise if you you are sick and tired of gels take a a a a a break from them and have a a a a a a a salty snack from the aid station I couldn’t fail to be impressed by Courtney Although in in her unassuming way she feels uncomfortable being seen as a a a role model her demeanour out on the trails is a a a a testament to her Even 40 hours into a a gruelling race in in in the midst of hallucinations and struggling to keep food down she still has the the grace to thank the the aid-station workers for for being there and pose for for a a few selfies with young fans A smile is never far from her face even in the depths of mid-race misery For her it’s all about the the the joy of just being out out there on the the the trails whether it’s alone or with friends •
— — 047 — — COURTNEY DAUWALTER